• A compass works by it's attraction to the earth's magnetic poles.compass image by Infocus from Fotolia.com
  
  Magnets are fascinating for all ages, and have scientific applications that can be displayed in science projects. From basic demonstrations of how magnets work to to complex experiments that involve multiple scientific applications, magnets are a fun way to show the invisible forces of our world in action.
  
  

Properties of Magnetic Fields

• Demonstrate how a magnet affects the needle of a compass.compass-clipping path image by Radu Razvan from Fotolia.com
  
  This simple project involves a poster presentation and basic demonstrations of how a magnet behaves. Describe what a magnetic pole is and how the two poles interact using identical magnets and display the work capacity of a magnet by using one to pick a series of progressively heavier items. For each demonstration in the project, prepare a poster display to illustrate how that principle works and how it can be applied in every day activities.
  
  

Electromagnetism

• Electromagnets can lift very large weights.crane image by Matthew Cole from Fotolia.com
  
  Wrap a bare copper wire around a nail very tightly and connect one of the ends of the wire to the positive terminal of the battery. Cut a second piece of wire that is 12 inches long. Connect a clip to one end and the other end to negative terminal of the battery. Demonstrate how current applied to the wire creates a magnetic field that ends when the connection is terminated. Variations on this experiment might be a display of how increasing the voltage affects the magnetic field, or how increasing the number of wire wraps on the nail can achieve the same goal.
  
  

Magnetic Levitation

• Magnetic Levitation can be applied to mass transportation systems.monorail station image by Samuray from Fotolia.com
  
  Build a narrow box and placed a wire wrapped steel rod in the bottom of the box with the wire ends running to a battery. Glue a series of magnets along the bottom of a smaller second box with like poles pointed downward and place it over the steel rod. Your demonstrate will include how connecting the wire ends to opposite battery terminals will determine the polar alignment of the electromagnet, and how creating an opposite magnetic field through the rod will cause the smaller box to rise. Variations on the exhibit might include generating an alternating set of electromagnetic currents to move the smaller box, or attaching positive and negative power lines above the smaller box which connect to a light source within it when electromagnetism is applied.
  
  

The Eco-Friendly Electromagnet

• Lemons can be used to create a small electromagnetic field.lemon image by jimcox40 from Fotolia.com
  
  A very entertaining science project would be the display of electromagnetic force created without the use of a battery or other electrical power source. Squeeze and roll two large lemons until they are noticeably "mushy," but be careful not to break the skins. Insert a copper wire and a steel wire about 1/2-inch apart in both lemons. Connect the copper wire of one lemon to the steel wire of the other. Wrap a small nail very tightly with at least 75 coils of fine copper wire. To demonstrate the experiment connect each end of the fine copper wire to the remaining wire in each lemon and use the resulting electromagnet to pick up magnetic items. The magnetic force generated is weak, but can be increased by linking additional lemons in series.